FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is experiential and is developed through specific practices. It can be considered as training for the brain, just as physical exercise is training for the body.

2. Is it just another relaxation technique?

Mindfulness practice is not a relaxation technique but many people do find it can be relaxing. When practising mindfulness you are actively engaging the brain in a particular way to change the brain.

3. Is it religious?

We teach mindfulness in a non secular way. It can be practised along side all religions should you wish.

4. Is Mindfulness safe?

Mindfulness is generally considered to be safe for “healthy” people¹. The practice of mindfulness is often compared to physical exercise and just the same as physical exercise mostly brings benefits, it is not without some risks and it is not always suitable for everyone².

This course is specifically designed for the workplace and can be considered as a “low intensity” mindfulness programme with detailed guided instruction and short practices. While rare, sometimes “low intensity” practices can bring thoughts to the fore that you may find disturbing. This is often an opportunity to work through them to a positive resolution. However, if this does arise and you do not have the capacity to deal with it you should consult with your occupational health department or an appropriate health care professional. If you have a history or are currently being treated for a mental health problem, such as clinical depression, you should contact your care provider before starting to practise mindfulness.

This course has been designed by a professionally qualified and experienced mindfulness teacher, Dr Gail Davies, who trained at Oxford University and complies with the UK Good Practice Guidelines for Teachers. She is also actively involved in mindfulness research with Warwick and Southampton Universities.

5. Do I need a special or quiet space to practise?

Mindfulness can be practised anywhere. You can take “formal” mindfulness meditation practices, which many people when first practising find easier in a quiet space. However, with busy lives and the benefit of headphones you can practise “on-the-go” while commuting or sitting in the park. You can also take “informal” mindfulness practices, which simply means integrating mindfulness into your daily routine such as mindfully walking or eating.

6. How long does it take?

Like physical exercise you need practise to benefit and as little as 10 minutes a day can make a significant difference in a very short period of time.

7. I perform better under pressure and don’t want to loose my edge. Will this affect my performance?

You will not lose your edge; mindfulness has been shown to improve performance when we are under pressure.

8. Do many people practise Mindfulness in the workplace?

Mindfulness is increasingly practised in multiple organisations such as Transport for London, General Mills, Google. Many Business schools such as Harvard, INSEAD and Ashridge have mindfulness programmes.

MINDLAB

Since 2011 we have been delivering mindfulness courses to a wide range of organisations including financial institutions, the NHS and medical schools, universities and pharmaceutical and manufacturing companies.

CONTACT US

To find out more about how mindfulness training with MindLab can benefit your organisation, you can:
call us: 0739 222 0784
or
email us: info@mind-lab.com